Stop Surrey Council Council turning off the lights

Guildford Labour Party encourages all Surrey residents to sign their petition against the Conservative-led County Council's proposal to turn off thousands of streetlights across the county between the hours of midnight and 5 am.

Chair George Dokimakis set up the petition calling for Surrey County Council to reconsider the plan and its effect on those who are out and about at this time of the night.

“There has been little consultation to switch off street lights at night. This endangers the safety of anyone who is out during this time. Anyone who was working late, coming back home on a late train; people who are out having a nice time; night shift workers; everyone who works 24/7 like the NHS staff in the A&E; retail staff accepting deliveries overnight, van drivers, emergency support workers.

“Switching the lights off at night increases the danger for anyone being outside during this time. In Guildford, there have been multiple sexual assaults in the last year alone. It is highly likely incidents like these will increase if the lights are turned off.

“In many villages across Surrey, there are little to no pavements for people to walk on which, at night, increases their threat of being hit by a car, not to mention the danger of falling down in our renowned potholes. It will also increase the threat of petty crime.

“The petition asks Surrey County Council to reconsider its ill-conceived plans, have a proper consultation, be transparent in its motives and approach and put the safety of its residents across Surrey first.

“Whilst there are benefits to doing so with regards to the environment and light pollution, this is not what is driving the council as they are interested purely in cost savings. They have performed a very poor consultation across Surrey where only a small number of people have been consulted for a change that will affect millions.

“We need to get the council to stop this massive change until a proper consultation has taken place and full transparency on arguments and decisions have been provided as well as evidence that alternative methods have been evaluated fully.

“I am asking everyone to sign the petition and let fellow residents in Surrey know to help us challenge this.”